August 29, 2016

We have been inundated with Ruby-throated hummingbirds for the past week.
It is a fool's game to try and count them, but being a fool is one of my strong points.

Anne and I gave up at 12-13 knowing there were more but they are impossible to track.

Archilochus colubris Scientists place hummingbirds and swifts in the same taxonomic order, the Apodiformes. The name means “without feet,” which is certainly how these birds look most of the time.source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

August 24, 2016

Hatched out in the morning, released in the afternoon.
This hatchling is about the size of your standard yellow pencil.

pantherophis gloydi

The eastern fox snake is the third-largest snake in Ontario and can reach a length of up to 1.7 metres, although most individuals are smaller. Its body is yellow to light brown with large, dark brown blotches down the back and two alternating rows of smaller blotches along the sides. This snake has a reddish brown head with dark bars around the eyes and a yellow chin. Its belly, which is also yellow, has alternating brown patches. The scales of this species are lightly keeled (ridged down the centre) and its anal plate is divided.
source - Ontario Nature.

August 21, 2016

An adult red-headed woodpecker has been showing up in the yard with four young birds in tow.We aren't sure if they all belong to the adult if some from another bird are just tagging along.

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

The Red-headed Woodpecker benefited from the chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease outbreaks of the twentieth century. Though these diseases devastated trees they provided many nest sites and foraging opportunities for the woodpeckers.source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

August 18, 2016

Had an interesting day out on the pontoon doing a turtle hatchling release. Osprey and turkey vultures cruising by, Caspian and common terns diving for lunch.Waves got up and it was difficult getting off the beach and then the motor wouldn't go into forward.Ended up going about 3km (1.8miles) in reverse back to the marina.Turned out a line had been knocked overboard and was tangled in the prop.Easy fix, long ride. People on the beach stared at us and probably wondered if beer was involved in out unusual cruise.

Cathartes aura

The oldest recorded Turkey Vulture was at least 16 years, 10 months old when it was found in Ohio, the same state where it had been banded.

August 15, 2016

My little lizard

They have been hiding and this is the first one I have photographed this year.

He was in a little burrow under a piece of wood.

The head and tail are together with a foot near the bottom.

Plestiodon fasciatus

The five-lined skink is a smooth, slender lizard that can grow to 21 centimetres in length, but most individuals are much smaller. Their coloration varies with age. Juveniles and young adult females are glossy black with five cream stripes down the back and a bright blue or blue-grey tail. Males and older females gradually fade to a more uniform bronze, although often the stripes are still visible. Males in breeding condition have a bright orange chin and jaw.

August 11, 2016

Red-headed woodpecker at Rondeau Provincial Park.

Red headed woodpeckers continue coming into the suet feeders in the yard. This was cropped to create a close up but has no other editing.

Melanerpes erythrocephalusRed-headed Woodpeckers are fierce defenders of their territory. They may remove the eggs of other species from nests and nest boxes, destroy other birds’ nests, and even enter duck nest boxes and puncture the duck eggs.

August 09, 2016

Hatchling map turtle.

The turtle recovery program at Rondeau has reached the release stag.
Nest are dug up in the spring as soon as they are laid and the location GPS.
This is to protect the eggs from predators such as raccoons.
The eggs are placed in incubators and after hatching are released back at the original nest sites.
I provided the turtle taxi.

Graptemys geographica

Northern map turtles inhabit large rivers and lakes with slow-moving water and a soft bottom. They require high-quality water that supports the female’s mollusc prey. These turtles may congregate in areas with abundant basking sites.
source - Ontario Nature.

August 08, 2016

A great blue heron flew past the pontoon boat a few days back.
We went from not seeing any for weeks to having 4 or 5 in one afternoon on the bay.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. The herons comb this “powder down” with a fringed claw on their middle toes, using the down like a washcloth to remove fish slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen. Applying the powder to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils of swamps.
source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Pooof

And you thought you were having a humid hair day.

This is a young Eastern Phoebe after taking a romp in the bird bath.

Sayornis phoebe

The Eastern Phoebe is a loner, rarely coming in contact with other phoebes. Even members of a mated pair do not spend much time together. They may roost together early in pair formation, but even during egg laying the female frequently chases the male away from her.

Shades of green.

While I was birdwatching/photographing from my tent blind in the yard a green frog hopped out of the pond.
It spent a few minutes sitting very still and then went right back in.
I like that you can see the sky in its eye.